Actress, dancer, and wife of MGM executive Edward J. Mannix. She was known for having an eight year affair with television's Superman, George Reeves. Their story is the subject of the film, "Hollywoodland" (2006), in which actress Diane Lane plays the role of Toni Mannix. Born Camille Bernice Froomess, she was a Ziegfeld Follies dancer and showgirl. She appeared in the film version of Florenz Ziegfeld's life, "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936), where she met MGM studio manager, Edward J. "EJ" Mannix. She soon moved in with him, living as his mistress and later marrying him on May 31, 1951. Known in Hollywood as Toni Mannix, she was well known for her beauty, flamboyance and a legendary sexual appetite. Her numerous affairs were supported by her husband, who had his own series of affairs going. Shortly after her marriage to EJ, she met actor George Reeves, who was to star in the upcoming television series, "Superman." She and Reeves were somewhat public with their arrangement, but the press, out of fear and respect for the clout that her husband EJ had, never exposed their relationship to the public. In 1959, Reeves broke off the relationship with Toni, in preparation for his upcoming marriage to actress Lenore Lemmon, leaving her broken hearted. Despite the breakup, she remained faithful in loving him and wanted him back. Five months later, Reeves died of a mysterious gunshot, officially ruled as a suicide, which shattered her. In his will, Reeves left his house and entire estate to Toni. When her husband died in 1963, she was left wealthy and comfortably from his investments, and she turned her home into a shrine in the memory of George Reeves, with photos of him all over the house. She never remarried. In the late 1970s she developed Alzheimer's disease, dying from complications in 1983 in Beverly Hills, California.
Actress, dancer, and wife of MGM executive Edward J. Mannix. She was known for having an eight year affair with television's Superman, George Reeves. Their story is the subject of the film, "Hollywoodland" (2006), in which actress Diane Lane plays the role of Toni Mannix. Born Camille Bernice Froomess, she was a Ziegfeld Follies dancer and showgirl. She appeared in the film version of Florenz Ziegfeld's life, "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936), where she met MGM studio manager, Edward J. "EJ" Mannix. She soon moved in with him, living as his mistress and later marrying him on May 31, 1951. Known in Hollywood as Toni Mannix, she was well known for her beauty, flamboyance and a legendary sexual appetite. Her numerous affairs were supported by her husband, who had his own series of affairs going. Shortly after her marriage to EJ, she met actor George Reeves, who was to star in the upcoming television series, "Superman." She and Reeves were somewhat public with their arrangement, but the press, out of fear and respect for the clout that her husband EJ had, never exposed their relationship to the public. In 1959, Reeves broke off the relationship with Toni, in preparation for his upcoming marriage to actress Lenore Lemmon, leaving her broken hearted. Despite the breakup, she remained faithful in loving him and wanted him back. Five months later, Reeves died of a mysterious gunshot, officially ruled as a suicide, which shattered her. In his will, Reeves left his house and entire estate to Toni. When her husband died in 1963, she was left wealthy and comfortably from his investments, and she turned her home into a shrine in the memory of George Reeves, with photos of him all over the house. She never remarried. In the late 1970s she developed Alzheimer's disease, dying from complications in 1983 in Beverly Hills, California.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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